VISTA: New round of kite sculptures take flight

VISTA -- A new crop of public art has emerged in downtown Vista,
just in time for Sunday's Vista Village Chocolate Festival and
Street Fair.

Eight large, "kite-related" sculptures were put on display over
the last couple of weeks, the second installment of "Kites over
Vista," a year-long public arts exhibit.

The exhibit is modeled after the city of San Diego's Urban Tree
public art program in which the potted tree sculptures aren't
really trees, said Bill Fortmueller, Vista's assistant director of
recreation and community services.

In Vista, the sculptures either "resemble kites or have wind
motion in them," he added.

The 20-foot high "Flock of Kites" features a spinning group of
kites that look something like white-tailed hawks. Artist Robert
Rochin of Vista said that the man-made, stringed, flying kite was
actually named after the species of bird that is spotted throughout
the year in Vista.

The installations drew quite a crowd Friday afternoon, including
City Councilman Bob Campbell.

"The arts commission has been asking for a partnership for quite
a while, and I am so glad we are moving in the right direction
now," Campbell said. "This will surely inspire all kinds of
wonderful things for Vista."

"My daughter is going to be so excited when I bring her down,"
said Kim Crawford of Vista.

"This is awesome," added Barb Cooley of Oceanside. "We couldn't
wait to come down and check them out."

Calls went out last December for three-dimensional submissions
for the 2009 contest. Entries came from all over California and as
far away as New Mexico. The City Council then approved the final
selection.

This year's winner, who each receive a $1,250 honorarium for
displaying their piece for 12 months, include "Flock of Kites;"
"Dance of the Butterfly" by Charles Bronson of Vista; "Mirro Kite"
by Mindy Rodman and Paul White of Oakland, CA; "Calder Revisited"
by Buddy Smith of Vista; "Magic Kite Ride" by Robert Maya of
Encinitas; "Wind Goddess" by Melissa Ralston of Escondido; "Kite of
Paradise" by Benjamin Lavender of San Diego; and "Round and Round
We Go" by Josh Bowman of Vista.

John and Lisa Alesi of Vista watched the excitement from across
the street while lunching at Urban Pizza. Above them was the
spinning and twirling "Round and Round We Go." They said they
really liked the "ones that move."

"It's great that more art is coming to town," Lisa said. "It
puts Vista on the map."

Thanks to private donations, six of the eight sculptures from
last year will be on permanent display around the city in a growing
public art collection that Fortmueller said is "very exciting."

Two are staying downtown. "Big Blue Kite" was purchased and
donated by the Vista Art Foundation, and an anonymous donor bought
"Joy Figure." Alta Vista Botanical Gardens has secured two kites,
Breeze Hill Park will feature another, and the artist of the final
piece is in negotiations to donate her piece to the Vista Academy
of Visual and Performing Arts.

The new sculptures will officially be unveiled at the Vista
Village Chocolate Festival and Street Fair, which will run from 11
a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will feature several kite-inspired
activities, and the artists of the new sculptures will be on hand
Sunday to talk about their pieces. The San Diego Kite Club will
display and demo kites throughout the day.